Plate heat exchanger



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ILATE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 29, 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 15, 1941. w. ASTLE PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 29. 1937 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 July l5, 1941.

w. AsTLE PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 29, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 July 15, 1941. w. AsTLE PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 29,' 1937 9 sheets-sheet 8 July 15 1941. w .AsT| E 2,248,933 l PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 29, 195'?l .9 sheets-sheet 9 9 fifi@ 7 Patented July l5, 194.1 y

UNITED srArssrA'reNT oFFIci:-

PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER William Astle, Chicago, lll. Application March 29, 1937, Serial No. 133,621 6 Claims. (Cl. 257-245) My invention relates to plate heat exchangers. outline of the heat transfer plates and center One of the objects of my invention is to pro lines of the cobperating gaskets; vide a plate heat exchanger provided with an Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2 |2 of Figs.

entry and discharge port arrangement whereby 11 and 11a; the uid stream is caused to ow in a wide thin 5 Fig. 13 is a section on the line I3 I,3 of Figs. film across the entire width oi the plates without 11 and 11a;

any substantial rise or fall in its passage. Fig. 14 is a section on the line M II of Figs.

A further object of my invention is to provide 1l 4and 11a;

a plate heat exchanger in which alternate plates Fig. 15 is a-section on the line Iii-I5 of Figs.

are provided with means for retaining a plate 10 11 and 11a;

gasket on each side thereof. Fig. 16 is a section on the line IS-IG of Figs.

A further object of my invention is to prol1 and 11a;

vide an improved plate heat exchanger in which Fig. 17 is a section on the line Il l'l of Figs.

' the plates are readily accessible for cleaning. 1l and 11a;

Further objects and advantages of the invenl5 Fig. 18 is a section on the line I8 l8 of Figs. tion will be. apparent fromthe description and 11 and 11a.

claims. y The particular constructiondisclosed as illus- In the drawings, in which severalembodiments trative of my invention is an apparatus including of my invention are shown, p a regenerative circuit in which raw milk first Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a plate 20 receives heat from warm milk from a holder, or v heat exchanger embodying my invention; the like, the raw milk being thereafter heated to Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the cona still higher temperature by heat supplied from struction of Fig. 1; hot Water, or the like, and the warm milk from Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view substanthe holder being thereafter further cooled by tially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; 25 transferring heat to a cooling fluid, such as am-Y Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sheet metal heat monia or the like. The construction shown for transfer plate; this purpose comprises a set I of regenerative Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing two of the plates providing thin substantially rectangular heat transfer plates and a gasket construction flow spaces between adjacent plates for the pasused therewith; 30 sage of the raw .milk and of the pasteurized milk, Fig. 6 is a section substantially on the line 6 6 a set 2 of heating plates providing thin substan.

of Fig, 4; tially rectangular ow spaces for the raw warm Fig. 7 is a section on the 1ine 1 1 of Fig. 4; milk'and the heating fluid, such as hot water. a Fig. 8 is a side elevational view on the line 8 8 set 3 of heat transfer plates providing thin subof Fig 4; 35 stantially rectangular iiow passages for the pas- Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the lin'e 9 9 of teurized milk from the regenerator and for the Fig, 4; cooling iiuid, such as ammonia, and suitable ter- Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a' minal plates 4 and passages for controlling the plate construction showing the interplate iiow flow of the various fluids to and from different on the line I Il l 0 of Fig. 4; 40 sets of heat transfer plates. 'I'he entire group Fig. 10a is a diagrammatic sectional view on Vof heat transfer plates and terminal plates may the line |0a ilJa ofk Fig. 4; l be clamped together to eiect uid-tight connec- Fig. 10b is a diagrammatic sectional view on tions by means of two clamping heads 5 and 6 the line 10b-lob of Fig. 4; which may be drawn together to effect the Fig. 11 is a plan view of a heat transfer plate 45 clamping action by means of a pair of clamping having provisions on both sides for holding rods 'l extending through` the heat exchange gaskets against movement along a face of the plates and terminal plates and through the plate; clamping heads. 'I'he assembly of plates and Fig. 11a is a plan view of a corner portion of a clamping heads may be mounted on a suitable plain heat transfer plate which cooperates with 50 support 8, one of the clamping heads 5 being stathe plate of Fig. 11; tionary with respect to the support and the other Fig. 1lb is a plan view of portionsof the gas- 6 being slidably mounted thereon to facilitate kets used on the front and rear faces of the the clamping and unclamping of the plates and gasket plate of Fig. 11; the separation of the plates from each other for,

Fig. 11e is a diagrammatic view -showing the 55 cleaning, etc. In tightening' or loosening up the e two parallel viewed in Fig. 3,

clamping heads, the clamp eral in the manner of a heads l and C together that they can be forced a Further rotation oi the clamping rods will draw the two clamping heads 5 and i toward each other to clamp the sets or plates l, z and a/and die terminal pistes 4 snugly into engagement to elect huid-tight joints between the gaskets and the adjacent head, the heat transfer plates or the terminal plates. f

As indicated above.'in the particular apparatus disclosed, there are four different fluids being handled: the raw milk which is to be heated; the pasteurizedmilk which is to becooled; the heating iluid, such as hot water ior further heating the raw milk after it has passed through the regenerative plates; and the cooling fluid such as ammonia or the like for further cooling the pasteurized milk after it has passed through the regenerative plates. .In the apparatus shown, raw milk enters the regenerative set I at the left side, as viewed in Fig. 3; ows through three parallel interplate ilow spaces 9 to the right-hand side of the regenerative plate: thence from the right-hand side of the regenerative set to the left-hand side of the regenerative set through three other parallel interplate ow spaces I0. and thence from the left-hand side to the right-hand side of the regenerative set through three other parallel lnterplate rlow spaces Il; thence from the regenerative set to an outlet passage l2 in the terminal plate la; thence (usually through a pump) to a passage l2 in the left-hand side in the terminal plate la: thence from left to right through two parallel interplate ilow spaces il,

rods 1 act in genbuckle to draw the r loosen them up so from right to left through two parallel interfiow spaces I5, and again from left to right through interplate flow spaces I6 in the heating plate set and from this-heating plate set through suitable passages I1 to the pasteurlzer.

The pasteurized milk is supplied to a passage in the right-hand side of the terminal plate,.as from which it flows through the regenerative set of plates, first from right to left through three parallel interflow spaces I3; then from left to right through three parallel interilow spaces I9, and again from right to left through three parallel interplate ilow spaces 20; thence through a passage 2l at the left-hand side of the terminal late, and thence from left to right in parallel through the interplate iibw spaces 22, and thence through the discharge passage 23 leading through the front clamping head. The heating liquid, such as hot water for the'heating set of plates 2, may be supplied to the interplate flow spaces 24 of the heating plates from a supply conduit 25 on the right-hand side of the set of plates, flowing from right to left in parallel through the interplate flow to the left-hand side of the set of heating plates and from thence to the hot water outlet passage 26 at the left-hand side oi the set of heating plates.

Suitableconduits 21 and 2B (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided for the .entrance and discharge of ammonia with respect to the cooling plates. The conduits connected with the movable terminal platesmay be made flexible so that these terminal plates can be shifted without disconnecting them from their supply and discharge conduits. The conduits 21 and 28 for the entrance and Adischarge of ammonia may be connected with suitable headers 28a and 2Gb in comspaces 24 munication with the pipes 28e and 2id, respectively.

Plate and casket constructions The construction of above described regenerative system is different in some respectsl from the construction used for the heating plate system and also from the construction used for the cooling plate system. The construction of the plates for the regenerative set will drst be described.

In the construction shown, the plates 28 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) used in the regenerative set may be made from similar sheet metal blanks, the port and gasket arrangement, however, being changed to suit requirements for eiecting the desired flow circuit arrangements. These plates are in general rectangular in -formand are provided with plate gasket constructions which in general outline the extent of the broad, thin flow passages between adjacent plates, and the plates are also provided with port gasket constructions, the port gasket constructions serving in general when provided to prevent a certain iluid from entering the space between two adjacent plates with respect to which space it is desired to maintain a fluid separation.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it willbe noted that the plate shown is provided with four embossed portions 30 of a general oval formation and with four embossed portions 3| which in general are in the form of a half oval. Any desired ones of these eight embossed portions may be punched out to provide port openings as desired and any desired ones of them may also be provided with a port gasket groove surrounding the port to eiect a sealing engagement with an opposing embossment on an adjoining plate to prevent fluid which may be flowing through the ports from escaping into the space between the adjacent plates. The upper faces of all eight of the bosses lie in the same general plane.

The main central portion of the plate is provided With corrugations 32, the purpose and. details of construction of which will be described hereinafter. The plate is also suitably embossed I or pressed to provide retaining means for portions of the plate gasket construction, as indicated. at 33, 34, 35, and 36.

In general, it will be noted that the horizontally extending pair of oval embossments 30 is located at one end of the plate, and the pair of vertically extending oval embossments 30 isy located at the other end of the plate. It will also be noted that one of the horizontally extending oval embossments 30 is above the corrugated portion of the plate, and the other horizontally extending oval embossment 30 is below the corrugation of the plate, and the two vertically extending oval port embossments 3il are located laterally beyond the end of the corrugated portion of the plate.

Similarly, with respect to the two pairs of semi-oval' embossments 3l, one of the horizontally extending pair is above the corrugated portion of the plate and the other is below the corrugated portion of the plate, while the two vertically extending semi-oval embossments are located laterally beyond the end of the corrugated portion of the plate.

, In general, the flow over the corrugated portion of the plate is between a pair of horizontally extending ports and a pair of vertically extending ports.` Either pair may be used as '1:5A the ports of entry and the other pair may be used the plates used for the lower right-hand as the ports of discharge. If, for example, two oval horizontally extending ports in one of the plates are used as the ports of entry, and two vertically extending oval yports in the adjacent juxtaposed plate are used as the ports of discharge, the uid entering bottom of the inter-plate space through the entr'y ports will distribute itself over the adjacent corrugated plate portion, which in general lies in a vertical plane, and will iiow laterally along this corrugatedsurface without any substantial rise or'fall as it iiows and will leave. the inter-plate flow space through the upper and lower vertically extending discharge ports.

In building-up a. nest or set of regenerative plates shown in Fig. 10, alternate plates are reversedend for end so that a pair of oval port bosses 30 pair of semi-oval port bosses 3| so that a gasket surrounding the oval port will rest snugly in fluid-tight engagement with the adjacent portion of a semi-oval port boss. Thus the oval gasket will prevent fluid owing through the ports in the adjacent plates from entering the space between the adjacent plates.

The construction of the plates being cross corrugated, the uid owing over its surface is in the formof a wide thin film which is caused to flow in a -plurality of converging streams of varying velocity at low cumulative pressure.

The corrugations 32 are pitched at such an angle that the tops of the corrugations in alternate plates cross and rest against each other at predetermined distances to properly support the plates against any diaphragmatic action and to create high velocities of the fluids. which vary from the maximum at the point of contact to a minimum at the centery between any two points of contact.

This varying velocity uid is also caused to receive turbulent action as it rapidly passes over the heat exchange surface in the troughs of the corrugations. These varying actions of the uid result in the continuously repeated contact of all particles of the iiuid with the surface of the heat exchange material and cause high heat exchange values at low operating pressures. Alternate plates have the 'angle of the corrugations rising from left to right and right to leftv to cause these conditions.

,The iiow passages are so located as to create lateral flow to andfrom the troughs of the corrugations and then to follow the convergent flow noted, to the end of the plate when it passes through the elongated ports running lengthwise with the flow. 'I'his port arrangement causes a straight line flow -which does not `permit the creation of dead pockets of air or fluids, and insures proper draining.

It will be noted that the port bosses 30 and 3| are so positioned with respect to the ow spaces on opposite sides of the plate that a heat exchange apparatus, built up of a. multiplicity of these plates positioned to lie in vertical planes, can be drained and vented completely without loosening and separating the plates. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the positioning of the and 3| is such that a plate maybe provided with four pairs of transfer ports, one pair in the u-pper right-hand quadrant of the plate, one pair in the upper left-hand quadrant, one pair in the quadrant, and the other pair in the lower left-hand quadrant, all of the four lower bridging transfer ports having an effective drainage port area not substantially above the bosses 30 Y ports having an eiective'air both at the top and will be juxtaposed with respect to a horizontal plane of the lower edges of the ow spaces and all of the four upper bridging 'transfer vent port area not substantially below the horizontal plane o1' the upper edges of the ow spaces.

This positioning of the ports, in combination with film flow spaces having laterally extending upper and lower edges, prevents any possibility of any substantial liquid pockets forming in the lower part of the liln'i ow spaces and prevents any possibili-ty of vany substantial air pockets part of the 'lm iiow spaces,

forming in the upper thus enabling the entire series of film flow spaces to till up at once when liquid is supplied through a supply passage in a terminal plate 4-and enabling the entire series of film ow spaces to be drained completely by in a terminal plate.

Terminal plates Heat exchange flow Before describing in further detail the construction and operation of the particular apparatus shown, I will describe in general what may be accomplished by the use of a set of plates, such as shown in Figs. 4 to 10b, suitable for use as the regenerative plates of set I.

In order to make clear the construction by means of which the various arrangements of interplate flow may be obtained, reference is made first to Fig. 5, which shows in perspective two plates which are to be swung together in juxtaposition to each other to provide an interplate flow space. In Fig. 5, the left hand plate 29 has two horizontal port bosses 30 at the right hand end of the plate perforated and provided with oval gaskets on the back side of the plate. The

two right hand vertically extending, semioval port bosses 3| are imperforate, and the two left hand horizontally extending semioval port bosses 3| are perforated but not gasketed. In the right hand plate 29 the horizontally extendingmval port bosses at the right vhand end of the plate 29- are perforated and provided with gaskets on the obverse side 0f the plate. The vertically extending oval port bosses 30 at the left hand end of the plate are imperforate. The vertically extending semioval port bosses 3| at the right hand end of the plate are perforated but not gasketed. The horizontally extending'semioval port bosses 3| at the left hand end of the plate are imperforate.

'I'he plate gasket construction comprises two similar, horizontally extending gasket strips 31 extending from 38 to 39, two similar, substantially vertically extending gasket strips 40 extending from 4| to 42, and four shaped, molded gasket sections 43 for the comers of the plate, respectively, extending between the horizontally extending gasket strips and the vertically extending gasket strips. The port gaskets 44 are opening 'a drain passage ...aff

Y in any desired ones of 4ern'bossments 33 serve one side of the gasket strips `*support portions of the corner ling gasket strips 31 I the plate, distributing oval in "shape and are correspondingly shaped oval channels 45 which may beformed the bosses 3|| or 3|. The

gasket strips 31 and also serve to support portions of the corner gaskets 43, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The em'bossments 34 serve to support 40 and also serve to gaskets 43. The embossments`96, extending from 46 to 41, serve to support one side of the horizontally extendand also portions of the corner gasket pieces 43. The embossments .35 serve to support one side oi gasket strips 40 and also portions of the corner gaskets 43. The semioval embossments 3| and the oval embossments 30 serve to support portions of the corner gaskets 43.

In order to prevent springing of the plate 29 under pressure and thus to prevent danger of leakage, the plates may be embossed as indicated at 50 and 5| in Figs. 4, 5, 6., and 8. These embossments 50 and 5| bear against the adjacent;l plates and effectively support the plates against distortion due to fluid pressure on th'e plates,

'thus preventing danger of leakage. In order to make the plates and'gaskets easy to clean, the gaskets 43 may be beveled as indicated at 5|a in Figs. 4 and .7, thus providing a smooth surface for brushing.

It will be understood, of course, that the above described porting and gasketlng arrangement is illustrative only and may be varied to take care of different situations. With the porting and gasketing arrangement described, when the two plates shown in Fig. 5 are swung together and pressed tightly in engagement with each other, the plate gasket construction, including the gasket members 31, 40 and 43, carried by the left hand plate, will lie in sealing engagement against at portions of the right hand plate along the broken line, indicated at 52. The oval port gaskets 44 carried by the right hand plate 29 will lie in sealing engagementl against nat portions of the` semioval port bosses 3| of the left hand plate 29, as indicated by the broken lines 53. This construction provides for an interplate flowl for a iiuid entering the ports 30 at the right hand end of the left hand plate and leaving the interplate flow space through the right hand end ports in the bosses 3| oi the right hand plate. The fluid entering the aforesaid ports 30 will first now downwardly fromfthe upper port 30 and upwardly from the lower port 30 along the corrugations in itself over the area between the plates 29, and will thence ow transversely with respect to the corrugations toward the exit ports 3l without any substantial rise or fall in its passage between the corrugated portions of the juxtaposed plates.

f'Ihe through plate flow for the fluid which is to be excluded from the aforesaid interplate flow space is effectedbymeans of thel port gaskets 44 in the right hand plate 29 which lies snugly against and in iluid tight relation with respect to the apertured port bosses 3| at the right hand end of the left hand plate 29. It will be noted that the area included by the plate gasket construction takes in the interplate ow ports 30 of the left hand plate and the interplate ow ports 3| of the right hand plate.

Y Figs. 10, 10a and 10b are views showing the relation of the interplate now spaces with respect to the porting arrangement of the I These views show o y the porting arrangement to support one side of thev the vertically extending,

for the upper half of 'the plate but of course the porting arrangement of the lower half of the plate may be substantially the same as that shown. In these views seven plates are shown, indicated as A, B, C, D, E, F and G, the corresponding interplate flow spaces being indicated by reference characters a, b, c, d, e, and f. For the sake of clarity, the plate corrugations are not shown. The porting arrangement shown in these views provides for parallel flow of a fluid in one direction through three of the interplate ilow spaces, b, d and I and for parallel flow of a separate iiuid in the opposite direction through the three interplate ow spaces a, c, and e. A iluid entering the set of plates at Y will ilow downwardly through the interplate ow spaces b, d and f into the space between the corrugated portions of the plates and thence laterally along the aforesaid interplate ilow spaces. escaping from the set of plates at the point X. The separate iluid entering the set o! plates at Z will ilow downwardly along the interplate ilow spaces a, c and e into the space between the corrugated portions of the plates and thence to the left between the corrugated portions of the plates, leaving the set of plates at W.

As indicated above, this construction provides for parallel counterow in opposite directions of the separate iluids. Many different flow arrangements may be secured by varying the porting arrangement. For instance, if plate C is made imperforate at the position Y, plate E made imperforate at the position Z, plate C made imperforate at the position W, and plate E made imperforate at position X, the flow of the fluids will be in series rather than in parallel. The iluid entering position Y will flow through the interplate flow space b to position X, thence through interplate ow space d back to position Y, and thence through interplate ow space ,f back to position X where it will leave the set of plates. The separate uid entering position Z will ilow through the interplate flow space e to position W, thence through interplate iiow space c back to position Z, thence through interplate ow space a to position W where it leaves the set of plates.

For the sake of convenience in description, it

may be assumed that the fluid entering at Y in Fig. 10a, leaving at X in Fig. 10, is raw milk, and that the fluid entering at Z in Fig. 10b and leaving at W in Fig. 10 is pasteurized milk. With this construction, it will be noted that the raw milk iiows in the interplate flow spaces b, d and and that the pasteurized milk flows through the interplate flow spaces a, c and e counter-current to the flow of the raw milk. The port gaskets 44 at Y and X prevent the raw milk from escaping and entering the spaces a, cand e reserved for the pasteurized milk, and the port gaskets 44 at Z and W prevent the pasteurized milk from entering the flow spaces b, d and f reserved for plates.

'the flow of the raw milk. The plate gasket constructions, including the gaskets 31 at Z and W, prevent the raw milk in the interplate flow spaces b, d and f from escaping from the ilow space outlined by these gasket constructions. The plate gasket constructions, including the gaskets 31 at Y and X. prevent the pasteurized milk from escaping from the flow spaces a, c and e outlined by these gasket constructions.

In order to prevent any possibility of fluid seeping past both the port gasket construction and the plate gasket construction, the semioval port bosses are relieved, as indicated at 54 (Fig. 10)

' passages alternating with the ments imperiorate.

lar members may be provided with more duit 21 and discharge conduit 28. The elongated to provide guttersordra'in channels along which any uid escaping past either the port gasket or the plate gasket may drain oir readily, thus preventing any possibility of leakage of a uid past both gaskets which\-mi`ght result in raw milk being mixed with the pasteurized milk.

- In the construction parallel are provided for the raw milk and three passages in parallel are provided for the pasteurized milk, the raw milk passages of the pas'f teurized milk so that the fiow may benmade countercurrent. It will be apparent that many different ow circuitsmay be secured by varying the port arrangements.- The transverse passage throughI the plates may be blocked off at any desired points simply by leaving the port emboss- It will be understood. of

course, that the iiow with respect to the upper ports of the set, indicated in Figs. 10, 10a and 10b, may be duplic of ports.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the entry and discharge connections for the intracellular ow of the set 3 may be in the form of flexible tubu- 21 and 28, there being one or more entry connections 21 and one or more discharge connections 28 for each of the intracellular 110W ted through the lower sets spaces.

provided with a flaring distributor member 6| having a port connection with one of the conduits 21 or 28 and having a thin, elongated ported edge in communication with the intracellular space through a long narrow opening provided in the peripheral edge of the cell. This thin edge and elongated port enables the distributing members 6| to be compactly arranged and also provides ample iiow space for the uid between the intracellular fiow space and the conduits 21 and 28. If desired or desirable, each intracellular space than one supply conport in the edge of the cell alsoresults in a substantial distribution of the iiuid with respect to the intracellular flow space.

In Figs. 11 to 18, inclusive, is shown a plate and gasket construction which may, in general, be used in place of that shown in Figs. to 10b, inclusive,rin the regenerative set I. This construction comprises a set-of sheet metal plates which may be termed gasket plates 65 having provisions on both faces for holding gaskets against displacement in planes parallel to the sheets, a set of plain plates 66 alternating and interspaced between the gasketed plates 65 and cooperating with the gasketed plates 65 to provide interplate iiow spaces, a plate gasket construction 61 in` general lying lin grooves on the front side of. the gasket plate, as viewed in Fig. 11, a plate gasket construction 68 in general lying in grooves on the rear face of the gasket plate of Fig. 11, port gaskets 69 at the ends of the gasket plates in general lying in grooves in the front side of the gasket plate 65, and port gaskets adjacent the upper and lower edges of the gasket plates in general lying in grooves in the rear side of the gasket plate 65. 'Ihe front and rear plate gaskets 61 kand 68 in general outline interplate ow spaces between the gasket plate and the front and rear plain plates, and the port gaskets 69 and 10 in general serve to provide for the now of liquid through the gasket plate and an adjacent plain plate without allowing the liquid owing through the port to enter the space between the two plates. Any desired ar- Each of the conduits 21 and 28 may be shown in Figs. 10, 10a and 10b, three passages in vided by suitably perforating the plates and providing suitable port gaskets.

In the construction shown (referring particularly to Figs. 13 -to 16, inclusive), liquid may be caused to enter or leave the interplate space be` tween the gasketedplate 66 and the front plain vertically extending ports 12I adjacent the oppo site side edge of the plates. Liquid may be caused to enter or leave the interplate iiow space between the gasketed plate 65 and the rear plain plate 66 through the vertically extending ports 12 adjacent a side edge of the plates, as indicated by the arrow 13 (Figs. 14 and 15), and to leave or enter this interplate iiow space through the laterally extending ports 1| adjacent the opposite side edge of the plates.

It will be noted that all of the gaskets 61, 68, 69, and 16 lying between a gasket plate 65 and a plain plate 66 lie in the same general plane and that the front gasket construction 61 and the rear gasket construction 68 cross each other at the two points. 14 and 15 on each corner, as indicated in Fig. 11b. This crossing of the gaskets and to insure tight joints. To take point. In order to care of this crossing of the gaskets, the gasketed plate has portions of the front gasket channel bumped forwardly, as indicated at 16 (Figs. 11 and 17), to about halt the depth of the gasket groove, so that the front gasket construction 61 will be pressed forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1'7. The portion of the gasket adjacent this bumpedup portion is compressed .somewhat more than are other portions, this construction being ynec'essitated because of the fact that the front and rear gaskets 61 and 66 cross each other at this plate, the rear plain plate 66 is provided with kgaskets 61 and 68 cross each other at this point.

Suitable spacer plates or frames 19 `may be provided between the peripheral portions of the plates in order to prevent crushing and maintain the proper plate spacing. The plates may be provided with openings at their opposite ends for the passage of the clamping rods 1. In order to prevent crushing or distortion of the plates when clamped, the gasketed plate may be provided with a plurality of bumped-up portions 8| (Figs. 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16). y,which will engage and lie against the adjacent /portions of the plain plates 66. In order to prevent any liquid which may from entering the space between the plates, drain constructions may be provided so .that if any liquid does escape past one of the port gaskets, it w l be drained out from between .the plates rather than be forced past the plate'gasket into the interplate iiow rangement oi interplate ilow space may be prohold the rear gasket snuglyV up into the bumped-up portion 16 of the gasket 11 Figs. 11a and 17) extena' gasket construction port means lying outside space. It will be'fnoted that the rear gasket 68 in general lies outside of the front gasket except those portions of the front gasket 61 which extend outwardly to embrace the ports. The rear .68, which may be termed the outer gasket construction, in general lies against the peripheral flange portion 82 of the plain plate 66, and the front gasket construction 61, which may be termed the inner gasket construction, in general lies against the ridge or embossment 83 formed in the plain plate. The main portions, both of the gasketed plates. and of the plain plates lying between the plate gaskets, are corrugated in general substantially in the manner previously described, the corrugated portions of the gasketed plates lying in the same general plane as the gaskets of the corresponding plates.

. Two somewhat dierent constructions are pro.. vided for draining the leakage past the port gaskets, one construction involving an embossment 84 in the plain plate (Figs. 11a, 14 and 15) and the other involving the provision of drainage partitions 85, as shown in Fig. 13. Where the embossment 84 is used, it provides a channel between the gaskets 51 and 69, as shown in Fig. 15, enabling any liquid escaping past the gasket to flow off between the plates to the outside of the ilow spaces. Similarly, when the drainage partition 85 is used in Fig. 13, the channel 88 in the drainage partition enables any liquid escaping past the port gasket 10 to ow out through this channel 86 and escape from between the two plates without escaping past the plate gasket 68 into the interplate flow space.

Further modifications will be apparent to skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

In the specification and claims where the terms quadrant" and quadrantal space" are used (referring to the plates), it is to be understood that the quadrants and quadrantal spaces are defined by a horizontal plane dividing the flow spaces equally, and a vertical plane dividing the flow spaces equally.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a heat exchange apparatus of the juxtaposed plate type, a substantially rectangular heat exchange plate provided thereof for cooperation with an adjacent plate to denne a lm flow space between said plates and provided with means on the opposite side thereof for cooperation with an adjacent plate to dene a film flow space between said plates, said heat exchange plate having transfer port means adjacent all four corners thereof in communication with the ilow space on one side of said heat transfer plate and out of communication with the flow space on the opposite side of said plates, said heat exchange plate also having transfer port means adjacent all four corners thereof out of communication with the ilow space on said one side of said heat exchange plate and in communication with the flow space on said opposite side of said heat exchange plate, said flow spaces extending between and having opposite edges lying in two spaced parallel planes perpendicular to the plate, four of said'port means,

one adjacent each corner, lying in the space be those with means on one side f tween said parallel planes and the other four said space. 2. In a heat exchange posed plate type, a substantially rectangular heat exchange plate provided with means on one side on opposite sides of said second apparatus of the juxtawith said thereof for cooperation with an adjacent plate to define a illm flow space between said plates and provided with means on the opposite side thereof for cooperation with an adjacent plate to denne.

a film flow space between said plates, said heat exchange plate having transfer port means adjacent all four corners thereof in tion with the flow space` on one side of said heat Atransfer plate and out vof vcommunication with the flow space on the opposite side of said plates, said heat exchange plate alsol having transfer port means adjacent all four corners thereof out of communication with the flow space on said one side of said heat exchange plate and in communication with the flow space on said opposite side of said heat exchange plate, said transfer port means being in bilateral symmetrical arrangement, as regards both location and flow space communication, with respect to an axis of the plate and also in bilateral symmetrical arrangement as regards location with respect to a second axis of the plate at right angles to said rst axis whereby in a set of similar juxtaposed plates alternate plates may be reversed end for end to provide for parallel flow in alternate flow spaces.

3. In a heat posed plate type,a substantially rectangular heat exchange plate provided with means on one side thereof for cooperation with an adjacent plate thereof for cooperation with an adjacent plate to define a film iiow space between said plates, said heat exchange plate having two transfer port means, one adjacent each of two corners adjacent the same edge of the plate, in communication with the flow space on one side of said plate and out of communication with the flow space on the opposite side of said plate, said plate also having two transfer port means, one adjacent each of said two corners, out of communication with the ow space on said one side of said plate and in communication with the flow space on said opposite side of said plate, said flow spaces each extending from and having anedge lying in a plane perpendicular tol said plate, two of said port means 'lying on one side of said plane and two lying on the other side of said plane.

4. Ina plate-type heat exchanger in which the plates are vertical, a plurality of plates including a first plate and an adjacent second plate, said first and second plates having means cooperating therewith to form a fllm flow space therebetween for a first fluid, a third plate and an adjacent fourth plate, said third and fourth plates having means cooperating therewith to form another film flow space for said rst fluid therebetween, said second and third plates having means cooperating |therewith to form at least one alternate film flow space for av second fluid therebetween, each .of said flow spaces having laterally extending upper and lower edges, said four plates each having eight port areas, two of said port areas being in each of the four quadrantal spaces, and the port areas of said four plates being in alignmentrtransversely of said plates, each lowermost port area in the lower one-hand quadrantal spaces of said second and third plates having an aperture extending below the lower edge of the first two mentioned flow spaces, and being in communication therewith and out of communication aligned therewith in two of said plurality of plates and third plates communicaexchange apparatus of the juxta- Y alternate flow spaces, certain port areas' being closed and said first two mentioned ilow spaces being in communication directly through aligned apertures between said closed port areas, each uppermost port area in the lower opposite hand quadrantal spaces of the first and fourth plates having an aperture extending downwardly to a level which is a distance less than the vertical extent of any of said ports above the lower edges of said first twomentioned fiow spaces and being in communication therewith at said level and out of communication with said alternate flow spaces, certain port areas in two of said plurality of plates between said first and fourth plates aligned with .said last mentioned apertures being closed, whereby said first two named flow spaces are connected in series.

5. In a plate-type heat exchanger in .which the plates are vertical, a plurality of plates including a first plate and an adjacent second plate, said i'irst and second plates having means cooperating therewith to form a lm flow space therebetween for a rst fluid, a third plate and an adjacent fourth plate, said third and fourth plates having means cooperating therewith to form another lm flow space for said first fluid therebetween, said second and third plates having means cooperating therewith to form at least one alternate film flow space for a second fluid therebetween, each of said flow spaces having laterally extending upper and lower edges, said four plates each having eight port areas, two of said port areas being in each of the four quadrantal spaces, and the port areas of said four plates being in alignment transversely of said plates, each uppermost of the port areas in the upper one hand quadrantal spaces of said second and third plates hav ing an aperture extending -above vthe upper edge of the rst two mentioned flow spaces. and being in communication therewith and out of communication with said alternate flow spaces, certain port areas aligned therewith in two of said plurality of plates on opposite sides of said second and third plates being closed, and said rst two y -two mentioned flow spaces and being in communication` therewith at said level and out of communication with said alternate flow spaces.

vcertain port areas in two of said plurality of plates between said rst and fourth plates aligned with said last mentioned apertures being closed. whereby said first two named flow spaces are connected ln series.

6. In a plate-type heat exchanger in which the plates are vertical, a plurality of plates including a first 'plate and an adjacent second plate, said -rst and second plates having means cooperating therewith to form a film now space therebetween for a first fluid, a third plate and an adjacent fourth plate, said third and fourth plates having y means cooperating therewith to form another film flow space for said rst fluid therebetween, said second and third plates having means cooperating therewith to format least one alternatel film flow space for a` second fluid therebetween, each of 'said flow spaces having laterally extending upper and lower edges, said four plates each having eight port areas, two of said port areas being in each lof the four quadrantai spaces, and the port areas of said four plates being in alignment transversely of said plates, each lowermost of the port areas in the lower one hand quadrant'alspaces of said second and third plates having an aperture extending below the lower edge of the first two mentioned flow spaces, and being incommunication therewith and vout of communication with said alternate flow spaces,

certain port areas aligned therewith in two ofv said plurality of plates on opposite sides of said second and third plates being closed and said first two mentioned flow spaces being in communication .directly through alignedhapertures between said closed port areas, each uppermost of the port areas in the lower opposite hand quadrantal space of the first and fourth plates having an aperture extending downwardly to a level which is a distance less ,than the vertical extent of any of said ports above the lower edges of said first two mentioned flow spaces and being in communication therewith at said level and out of communication with said alternate flow spaces,

certain port areas in two of said plurality oi.`

plates between said first and fourth plates aligned with said last mentioned apertures being closed, whereby said first two named flow spaces are connected in series, each uppermost of the port areas in the upper one hand quadrantal spaces of said second and third plates having an aperture extending above the upper edge of the rst two mentioned flow spaces and being in communication therewith and out of communication with said alternate flow spaces. certain portk areas aligned therewith in two of said plurality of plates on opposite sides of said second and third plates being closed and said first two mentioned flow spaces being in communication directly through aligned apertures between said closed port areas,` each lowermost of the port areas in the upper opposite hand quadrantal spaces of said rst and fourth plates having an aperture extending upwardly to a level which is a distance less than the vertical extent of any of said ports below the upper edges of said first two mentioned i'iow spaces and being in communication therewith at said level and out of communication with said alternate now spaces, certain port areas in two of said plurality of plates between said rst and fourth plates aligned with said last mentioned apertures .being closed, whereby said rst two named flow spaces are connected in series.

WILLIAMASIIE. 

